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Mural to bring to life Race Course Road heritage

COMMUNITY COLOURS: More than 40 people worked on the 20m-long community art project, which features details from Race Course Road's history as a hub for horse racing and trading. TNP PHOTO: JEREMY LONG

COMMUNITY COLOURS: Mr Jaxton Su Jingxiang touches up the tail of the horse featured in the Race Course Road mural. TNP PHOTO: JEREMY LONG

VIVID: Mr Jaxton Su Jingxiang has also painted other murals, including Colours of Little India along Chander Road, which features windows with ornaments close to Indian culture.TNP PHOTO: JEREMY LONG

VIVID: Mr Jaxton Su Jingxiang has also painted other murals, including Colours of Little India along Chander Road, which features windows with ornaments close to Indian culture.TNP PHOTO: JEREMY LONG

VIVID: Mr Jaxton Su Jingxiang has also painted other murals, including Colours of Little India along Chander Road, which features windows with ornaments close to Indian culture.TNP PHOTO: JEREMY LONG

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The project was sponsored by Singapore Turf Club, the National Youth Council (NYC), and Matchbox, a grant platform by the National Arts Council (NAC) for people aged 35 and below.

For almost every day, Mr Su painted his vision of a scene from the past.

He said: "I think many Singaporeans don't know why the road is called Race Course Road, so I hope a mural would help passers-by understand our heritage."

There were horse races, at what is now Farrer Park, from 1842 to 1933.

MARKET VIBE

Trading goods from past to present - Chinese biscuit tins, Indian spices, Indian flowers, rattan products - were included to enhance the street market vibe he wanted to convey.

To paint the mural, Mr Su approached the NAC early this year, receiving advice on the communities to involve.

Some of the migrant workers staying in the shophouse at No. 50 helped him paint on Sundays.

Mr Su said: "Through this project, I got to chat with and understand them better. It was nice hearing that they had enjoyed the experience, and left a mark at the place they work and live in."

Art Club students from Raffles Institution - 13 from Year 1 to 4, and 10 from Year 5 to 6 - and two teachers were also roped in.

Ms Ang Tze Qi, a teacher-mentor, saw it as an opportunity for her students to contribute to the community.

She added: "The opportunity to work with an artist was also a precious one as they could learn what it is like to be a practising artist in Singapore.

"It is definitely encouraging for the students to see that it is possible to pursue their passions here."

Head of Corporate Communications at Singapore Turf Club, Mr Eric Loh, said: "We felt it was a great idea to celebrate the heritage and significance of the area where Singapore Turf Club first had its origin."

An NYC spokesman said that the project was supported by the NYC's Young ChangeMakers (YCM) grant.

YCM fosters leadership development by giving seed funding, support and resources to youths keen on launching their own community projects.

"Youths are also empowered as panellists to assess grants, and as mentors, guiding their peers' projects," the spokesman added.

Mr Su has painted at least nine other community art projects, and at least four other murals.

His latest project, Colours of Little India, features windows with ornaments close to the Indian culture, such as spices and garlands.

- Additional reporting by KIMBERLY LIM

"I think many Singaporeans don't know why the road is called Race Course Road, so I hope a mural would help passers-by understand our heritage. "